Mats Hummels’ header early into the second half was enough to earn Dortmund a huge win and send them back to the final for the first time in over a decade.
Dortmund progressed to the Wembley final after a brilliant away performance and resilient defending, which also saw PSG hit the woodwork SIX times over two legs. The French superstar will join Real Madrid this summer having failed to bring the holy grail to PSG’s Qatari ownership by becoming European Champions.
The Germans took a goal lead to the Parc de Princes after Niclas Fullkrug’s goal. They defended their lead expertly, despite PSG having 29 attempts on goal, but only five on target. Edin Terzic’s men canceled out PSG’s wing play with their midfielders and the back four staying compact.
Then they hit PSG early in the second half when Hummels doubled their lead. Mbappe didn’t set the game alight. He caused the first real concern in the German ranks with a dribble that took out four defenders before working the ball to the right where Ouseman Dembele blazed over.
Mbappe then fluffed a shot from eight yards and from the break away attack Gianluigi Donnarumma needed to produce a sharp save to deny Karim Adeyemi who ran 60 yards with the ball to shoot. It was a noisy night even before kick-off and the home fans managed to set alight a Dortmund banner with a flare just to heat up the atmosphere and a red wall of flares after half-time.
After the break, PSG missed an open goal, when Goncalo Ramos’s touch flipped to the back post, and Warren Zaire Emery was on hand to hit the post. Dortmund’s response was positive, a three-pass move released Adeyemi to win a corner off Marquinhos, and the goal that doubled their lead.
Hummels, 35, rose at the back post to hammer home a close-range header out jumping Luca Beraldo. He has played more than 500 games for the club and got four this season, but few have been more important.
The PSG response was poor. Dortmund just grew in confidence and bossed the ball, with a swagger. The chances that came the French way were snatched at, Ramos spooning over from Vitinha’s cross.
Nuno Mendez lashed a low shot from outside the area against the inside of the post. In the dying minutes, Mbappe scuffed a shot which keeper Gregor Kobel deflected onto the bar. Then Vitinha hammered against the bar.
Goal hero Hummels said: “We’ve believed that we can prevail in every game – and I don’t see why we shouldn’t win at Wembley now.
“We remained active today and were able to take so much pace out of the game and atmosphere out of the stadium. That was our recipe for success.”
Boss Edin Terzic said: “I am proud. We won both games, kept clean sheets and this is unbelievable. It was an outstanding team performance. They were the better team in the first half. But we had a huge chance. Second-half was passionate, we did everything for a clean sheet.
“Last season, we lost the championship at home on the last matchday. I’m happy that we can now give something back to the fans. We’ve grown with every game and eventually realized that we could be the team that surprises everyone in the end.”